Berghill

Latest posts by Berghill

They can be kept in check. Our Bell Etoile is about to be pruned. I will reduce the length of the new shoots by half and that can be done again later on if it gets too much new growth. We still get good flowering and the shrub stays at about 8 feet tall.

There are dwarf forms which are as highly scented as any. We have Manteau D'Hermine and that is lower growing and highly scented. We also have some other unnamed ones which are so far staying at less than 4 feet tall. All of them are well scented. Sorry NC.

It is a plant called Pokeweed, properly Phytolacca americana. The flowers are replaced by black berry like things which are toxic if eaten. I like the plant, but others don't. So a weed? That depends on whether you like it, or want it.

They cost me over £60 in that they not only rummaged around in a tray of 40 plants, they removed all the plants from the soil and spread them about. Naturally most of the plants died, or cannot be matched with their labels so at £1,50 each when sold, it was rather expensive. Where are the blooming cats when you need them.

Now I have to put shade netting over all the newly potted stuff just to keep them safe. A dratted nuisance when it comes to watering and maintenance.

Ours are still in flower so not even started cutting back yet. Cut now there is still time for it to make new growth for next year. Reduce the size over the next three years by cutting back hard now about a third of the bush. Aim for an open centre, by removing low down the oldest stems from the middle of the bush.